Jing Wang

With rising rates of mental health disorders among youth, schools have become essential settings for early identification and intervention, despite often facing resource limitations. This study surveyed 160 Illinois K-12 public school personnel to assess their knowledge of mental health, preparedness, and use of mental health skills. Regression analyses examined how individual-level demographic and professional characteristics influenced these outcomes. University-level training, prior completion of professional workshops, and roles in administration or healthcare were positively associated with higher pre-training mental health knowledge. These factors, along with roles in physical or mental/behavioral health, were also linked to greater self-reported preparedness and responsiveness. However, no significant associations were found between personnel characteristics and their reported use or application of mental health skills. These findings underscore the importance of targeted, role-specific training to strengthen school personnel’s capacity to support student mental health and promote more inclusive and responsive school environments.

Reentry into the workforce for formerly incarcerated individuals is fraught with challenges, including limited education and employer stigma. However, employment post-release has been found to reduce recidivism. Prison work release programs, such as Illinois’ Adult Transition Centers (ATCs), may effectively facilitate employment and reduce recidivism for reentering individuals. This study evaluated the impact of ATC participation on recidivism outcomes. We used propensity score matching to create a comparison group of non-ATC participants with characteristics similar to the participants. The sample consisted of individuals released in 2016 or 2017, with rearrest and reincarceration tracked through 2021. Survival analysis revealed that ATC participation was associated with a 15.5% lower probability of rearrest and a 36.9% lower probability of reincarceration; the ATC participants experienced significantly more extended periods until their first post-release rearrest and reincarceration compared to non-participants. The findings suggest that work release programs can play a crucial role in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals.